Bemidji Man Charged In Drug DWI Case
Bemidji (trfnews.i234.me) — A Bemidji man is facing a felony drug charge and a gross misdemeanor DWI charge after a traffic stop in Beltrami County.
Frank Wakonabo, 32, of Bemidji, is charged in Beltrami County District Court with fifth-degree drug possession. He is also charged with third-degree DWI involving a Schedule I or II controlled substance.
The case was filed under court file number 04-CR-26-975. The charges stem from an April 28, 2026, traffic stop in Bemidji.
Traffic Stop In Bemidji
According to the court complaint, a Bemidji police officer stopped a gray sedan near 1st Street South and Paul Bunyan Drive South.
The complaint says the stop began after the officer saw an alleged equipment violation involving loud exhaust.
Wakonabo was identified as the driver. The complaint says he handed over a state ID instead of a driver’s license.
Authorities said dispatch confirmed Wakonabo’s license was revoked.
Complaint Alleges Signs Of Impairment
The complaint says the officer reported signs of possible impairment during the stop.
Those alleged signs included tremors, glassy eyes, and unusual speech.
The complaint also states Wakonabo admitted he had smoked methamphetamine the day before the stop.
Authorities said field sobriety tests showed indicators of impairment.
Wakonabo was then arrested on suspicion of DWI.
Substance Sent For Testing
During a vehicle search, officers reported finding a small baggie with a white crystalline substance.
The complaint says the substance weighed about 8.73 grams.
A field test was inconclusive for methamphetamine.
Authorities said the substance was sent to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension for testing.
A blood sample was also collected after a search warrant was signed.
The complaint does not list final lab results.
Charges And Possible Penalties
The fifth-degree drug possession charge is a felony under Minnesota Statute 152.025.
It carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both.
The third-degree DWI charge is a gross misdemeanor under Minnesota Statute 169A.20 and Minnesota Statute 169A.26.
It carries a maximum sentence of 364 days in jail, a $3,000 fine, or both.
The complaint also says Wakonabo has a prior impaired driving conviction within 10 years.
It also lists prior fifth-degree possession convictions.
A criminal complaint is not a conviction.
Wakonabo is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.
